The More Things Change

It hit me today at church just how things have since I was a 13 year-old Deacon in the LDS Church.
Today there were four Priests (16 -- 18 year old boys) preparing the sacrament.  Three of the boys had white shirts and ties, and one boy had a suit coat on. All of the Deacons had white shirts, ties, and some sort of khaki type pants.
I remembered when I was a kid that age and how I dressed. I was like many of the other kids, at the height of fashion. It was the late 60’s and bell bottom pants were all the rage. So were turtlenecks. Most of the Deacons wore sport coats and bell bottoms. Today, it is important to wear white shirts and ties. In the 60’s, it wasn’t as important. In fact, many of us wore white turtlenecks under our coats, or a fancy sweater.
While I sat in the meeting today, I had a vivid remembrance of me standing in front of the congregation with a dark green sport coat, a purple shirt, purple & black striped tie, flair-bottom pants and blue and white patent leather shoes, with a 2 ½ heal. Boy did I look hot. I got the outfit as a graduation from Junior High School.
Thinking back on it, I probably looked like a clown. Of course, we all did. All 12 of us were hip and happening.
I don’t know why remembered that today. Perhaps it is because I haven't changed that much since then. Today I am wearing a cream colored suit with pink and silver tie, while most of the other men my age are sitting next to their wives in a dark blue suit with conservative pin stripe and a power tie.
As they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Another Angel Moment

I believe in Angels. Especially Guardian Angels. I have been blessed by angels all my life. Some angels were from this side of the veil. These Angels have helped make my life a wonderful blessing. These Angels were in my life when I needed them the most. Some of them have left me, but a few of these earthly Angels are still around to protect me and support me.

I also believe in ethereal Angels. These Angels are from the other side of the veil. They come and go and serve us, protect us and inspire us. I like the protecting kind the best.
As I said, I believe in Angels cause I am blessed by them. In fact, I was blessed just last night, or maybe it was this morning.

I was coming home after spending a few days helping Holland after surgery. I couldn't sleep and was anxious to get home. So, I got on the road around 2:00 a.m. Just outside of Leeds Utah, the little battery light came on. Then it went off. I looked at the gauge and the little needle began to go down. I was in trouble. I kept driving, hoping to get to Cedar City, but it wasn't to be. Just 12 miles south of Cedar I lost all power, even battery. I was stuck. I opened my laptop and fired up the broadband. I looked up a tow truck on line. I tried to call, but there was no service. I walked to a rest stop 1 mile away, called the two truck, and got a ride to Cedar. It started to hit me that for some reason my laptop got a connection, but my phone couldn't.

The driver didn't know how I got a signal, either. He said it was a REAL DEAD ZONE.
Still, I had his number. Still I knew who to call on the pay phone. How did it happen?

I know. Another angel blessed my life.

On The Road

Today I find myself in the waiting room at Dixie Regional Medical Center waiting for my son Holland. He is having surgery on his foot. He asked if I could come and help. It is a comfort to know that your children are really never too old to need love and support.
He is having surgery on a bone that I have never heard of. It is in his big toe, left foot. He probably hurt it on his mission in Fiji. Who knows.
It is fun to visit for a few days. Holland is living with his brother's family. Bret, Lori Michelle and Faye have made room for him for a few weeks until he moves to Phoenix. It is a pleasure to watch my children interact as families. For instance, I didn't know Lori Michelle (I call her that so as not to confuse her with Lori, the mom) was such a tease. It is a hoot to watch as she riles up Faye about her toys, eating, and Marley their dog. Poor Bret as I am sure both girls gang up on him. :)
I have also had zucchini in several new ways. Last time I was here I had macaroni and cheese and zucchini. This trip I had zucchini fried and even had an apricot and zucchini smoothie. Lori Michelle even has Holland eating zucchini -- and I never could get him to eat it as a kid.
Anyway, while I am here I get to babysit the cutest little Olsen in whole world. Faye loves movies.Which is nice, as this family doesn't watch TV. That makes it all the easier to babysit. So,I will pull out my really old bag of tricks and babysit both my baby and my grand-baby.
Love, you never get too old to enjoy its affects! :)

An Eagle in a Chicken Coop

When I was in high school, our LDS Seminary had some very talented teachers. Two of the teachers were photographers, and created a multi-media presentation to inspire us to be better. Part of the show told of a fable about an eagle that grew up thinking it was a chicken. With slides, music and movies, this story has been one that I have remembered off an on in my life. Today, I walked out of church wanting to read this "fable" as I am feeling like I am an eagle, living the life of a chicken. I found the story online and want to share it with you.

Enjoy!

  A fable is told about an eagle who thought he was a chicken. When the eagle was very small, he fell from the safety of his nest.  A chicken farmer found the eagle, brought him to the farm, and raised him in a chicken coop among his many chickens. The eagle grew up doing what chickens do, living like a chicken, and believing he was a chicken.
         A naturalist came to the chicken farm to see if what he had heard about an eagle acting like a chicken was really true.  He knew that an eagle is king of the sky.  He was surprised to see the eagle strutting around the chicken coop, pecking at the ground, and acting very much like a chicken.  The farmer explained to the naturalist that this bird was no longer an eagle.  He was now a chicken because he had been trained to be a chicken and he believed that he was a chicken.
         The naturalist knew there was more to this great bird than his actions showed as he "pretended" to be a chicken.  He was born an eagle and had the heart of an eagle, and nothing could change that.  The man lifted the eagle onto the fence surrounding the chicken coop and said,  "Eagle, thou art an eagle.  Stretch forth thy wings and fly."  The eagle moved slightly, only to look at the man; then he glanced down at his home among the chickens in the chicken coop where he was comfortable.  He jumped off the fence and continued doing what chickens do.  The farmer was satisfied. "I told you it was a chicken," he said.
         The naturalist returned the next day and tried again to convince the farmer and the eagle that the eagle was born for something greater.  He took the eagle to the top of the farmhouse and spoke to him: "Eagle, thou art an eagle.  Thou dost belong to the sky and not to the earth.  Stretch forth thy wings and fly." The large bird looked at the man, then again down into the chicken coop.  He jumped from the man's arm onto the roof of the farmhouse.
         Knowing what eagles are really about, the naturalist asked the farmer to let him try one more time.  He would return the next day and prove that this bird was an eagle.  The farmer, convinced otherwise, said, "It is a chicken."
         The naturalist returned the next morning to the chicken farm and took the eagle and the farmer some distance away to the foot of a high mountain.  They could not see the farm nor the chicken coop from this new setting.  The man held the eagle on his arm and pointed high into the sky where the bright sun was beckoning above.  He spoke: "Eagle, thou art an eagle!  Thou dost belong to the sky and not to the earth.  Stretch forth thy wings and fly." This time the eagle stared skyward into the bright sun, straightened his large body, and stretched his massive wings.  His wings moved, slowly at first, then surely and powerfully.  With the mighty screech of an eagle, he flew.

            (In Walk Tall, You're A Daughter Of God, by Jamie Glenn, pp. 22-4.

Getting Older and More Forgetful

Okay, so I am getting older. Don't know when that happened, but I am. This morning I went to the gym where I did my 45 minutes on a stationary bike. From there I hit the shower and then get dressed for the day. Today I reached into my bag and NO SHIRT! Oh no. I did I not put a shirt in my bag. I forget socks on a regular basis. I believe I forget my socks cause I would rather wear sandals. But to forget my shirt?
I have always been "forgetful" when it came to leaving the house. I generally had to go back and get keys, papers, wallet, or something else. I have learned there is a way to prevent some of that. For instance, I now put my keys in a basket by the door so I can grab them as I leave the house. I try create lists to remind me what I am going to do for the day, and what I need to take with me.

Getting forgetful isn't the worst thing about getting old, but dang if I can remember what leads the list. :)